Fungi in sea turtles substrates

Abstract

Fungi of the phylum Ascomycota , recognized for their extraordinary adaptability to extreme environments, play crucial ecological roles, particularly in sea turtle nests, where they are responsible for 61% of fungal occurrences. In this comprehensive review, we aim to synthesize current knowledge on the diversity, ecology, and pathogenicity of fungi associated with sea turtles and their nesting environments, with special attention to the genus Fusarium and its global distribution. We also seek to identify the main knowledge gaps and methodological challenges that hinder accurate species identification and comparative analyses across studies. This review analyzes the occurrence and interactions of fungi in different species of sea turtles, highlighting the prevalence of genera such as Fusarium , which have been associated with severe embryo mortality, significantly reducing hatching success. Despite the identification of 39 genera and approximately 70 species of fungi, underreporting and methodological variability between studies limit a comprehensive understanding of fungal interactions. Additionally, we emphasize the disharmonious interactions between fungi and turtles, particularly infections that compromise the health of these animals, often in association with bacterial coinfections. By establishing an overview of existing research and proposing standardized methodological approaches, this study provides a starting point for more systematic and long-term investigations that integrate environmental and climatic variables. Such efforts are essential to inform effective conservation strategies and to mitigate the growing threat that fungal infections pose to sea turtle populations worldwide.

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